Stencil-cutting machine.



S. ELLIOTT.

STENCIL CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 7,1908.

Patented July 13, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Mil/Leases:

Q J/am'e. M; 92 4.

S. ELLIOTT.

STENCIL CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7,1908.

927,842. Patented July 13, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

S. ELLIOTT.

STENCIL CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7, 1908.

927,842, Patented July 13, 1909.

3SHEETSSHEET 3.

Mai/265585 i Z jwcvztor/ //ZWZM' y W 7L7 z m fW STERLING ELLIOTT, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

STENCIL-CUTTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 7, 1908.

Patented July 13, 1909.

Serial No. 431,519.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STERLING ELLIOTT, of Newton, county of Middlesox, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Stencil-Cutting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stencil-cutting machines and has for its object to arrange a stationary, circular, dial-plate in front of a rotary tool-holder, and to provide a pointer which is movable over said dial-plate, and to provide hand-engaging means, such, for instance, as a ring which is accessible at opposite sides of said diallate, whereby it is adapted to be engaged Ey both hands of the operator, and which is connected with said pointer and tool-holder for o )erating them simultaneously, and to provide means for operating the tools carried by the toolholder; also to arrange said stationary unobstructed dial-plate in aninclined position and to correspondingly, arrange the pointer and pointer-shaft and means for operating it; also to provide a driving-gear on the shaft carry ing the pointer which engages a driven-gear on the shaft carrying the tool-holder and to attach to the driving-gear a hand-engaging ring by which it may be turned to thereby turn the pointer-carrying shaft and the toolholder simultaneously; also to rovide an improved form of bearing for t 1e pointercarrying shaft; also to provide an improved form of locking-device for the tool-holder whereby the tool-holder may be firmly held against rotary movement when engaged by it and to provide the foot-lever which is employed for operating the tool-actuating device, with means for moving said locking-device into its unlocking position and to provide means independent of the foot-lever for operating said locking-device to move it into its locking position.

Figure 1 is a front view of a stencil-cutting machine embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the head of the machinetaken on the dotted-line 2-2 Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine, the plunger and operating mechanism therefor being omitted. Fig. 4 is a detail showing the looking device for the tool-holder in engaging position therewith. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the locking dctent and a portion of the toothed gear which it engages. Figs. 6 and 7 are details of portions of the toothed gears which are connected with the pointer and tool-holder.

it represents a tool-holder, which may be employed in carrying out this invention. It

is herein shown as cylindrically formed and provided with a circularly arranged series of holes near its edge which receive punching tools a of any suitable construction, which are adapted to cut the stencil. These tools are normally lifted by springs a and adapted to be depressed by means of a plungerv b, beneath which they are brought as the toolholder is turned. The tool-holder is secured to the upper end of an upright shaft or. having its bearings in the main frame of the machine. Said shaft 03 has secured to its lower end a toothed gear 0 which is engaged and driven by a toothed gear 0 secured to the lower end of a shaft d. The shaft d eXtends up through the center of a circular dial-plate d which is stationarily sup orted on a forward extension of the main rame of the machine in front of the tool-holder. The dialplate is preferably arranged in an inclined position to better enable the operator to observe the characters thereon, and consequently the shaft d is inclined to the perpendicular, being arranged at right angles to the plane of the diallate and the toothed gear a is also inclined, eing arranged in parallelism with the dial-plate.

To the up er end of the shaft (1 a pointer d is'secured which moves over the face of. the dial-plate, and the means herein shown for attaching the pointer to the shaft are arran ed to also provide a ball-bearing for the shat in order that it may be turned freely.

Said attaching means consists of a circular 7 ca d bearing the pointer and made of suitab e size to fit loosely upon or embrace the hub (1 formed on the upper side of the dialplate, so as to turn thereon. This cap is attached to the shaft (1 and as herein shown the shaft has a screw-threaded stud d rising front it which extends through a center-hole in th cap, and a nut d is screwed onto said stud whlch holds the ca securely on the shaft. The shaft (1 exten s a short distance aboye the end of the hub d, and around said shafl a set of balls (1 is arranged, said balls being held in lace between the cap and the end of the huli. The weight of the toothed gear and shaft is, therefore, borne by the balls and consequently said balls serve as a ball-bearing to permit the shaft to be easily turned. A ring c is secured to the toothed gear 0 which is made larger in diameter than the dial-plate, and the perimeter-of said ring is shaped so as to be conveniently engaged by both hands of the operator for the purpose of turning it and thereby turning the gear .0 and parts connected therewith, as for instance, the pointer and tool-holder. The ring e being made larger in diameter than the dial plate and arranged at the side of and referably in a plane below said plate may e conveniently engaged by both hands of the operator and turned while he watches the-pointer move over the face of the dial plate and the view of said dial-plate is not obstructed. It will be observed that the circular tool-holder bearing a large number of tools is quite heavy, yet it may be easily turned together with the pointer by the hand-engaging means herein shown, the operator using both hands in performing this work. Furthermore, by arranging the handengaging means as herein shown, so that it is accessible at opposite sides of the dialplate, it may be engaged by both hands of the operator and the dial-plate disposed between the hands of the operator so as to be very conveniently observed. p The tools are arranged in the tool-holder to correspond with the position of the characters on the dial-plate so that the relative position of the tools may be determined by watching the movements of the pointer.

The teeth of the gears c and c are beveled to accommodate their relative angular positions with res ect to each other. Furthermore, the teet of the driven gear 0 are made quite long and taper toward their ends to provide for the operation of a centering-device which also serves as a means for locking the gear in fixed position. The tapering sides of the teeth rovide for engagement therewith of the loc ing-detent which operates to move the gear a little either way to thereby bring the tool directly beneath the plunger.

Referring to Fig. 5, the extra lon tapering teeth are shown together with the locking-detent, the sides of the teeth continuing to ta er almost to thevends thereof being there y formed almost to a point. The interdental spaces in the driven gear 0 are shaped to accommodate said extra long taperingteeth of the driven gear, as shown in Fig. 7. f represents the locking-detent, which is secured to the upper end of an arm I f secured to a pivot-shaftf having its bearings inthe main frame. Said detent is made as a tapering or wedge-shapedtooth adapted to enter any one of the spaces between the teeth of the driven gear a, and if said gear is not correctly disposed. relative to said detent, said detent will engage one or the other side of one of the teeth thereof, and will move said gear a little in one or the other direction as it enters the s ace.- Therefore, the locking-detent serves 0th as a locking means for the gear and as a centering means. The

sa'asaa other independent means for moving t e locking-detent into locking position, its movement is the same at each operation and such movement may be regulated to suit the conditions. An arm f is secured to the pivotshaft f 2 which extends rearward and has an enlarged end, and an arm f 5 also having an enlarged end is arranged on a lever g, which is adapted to engage said arm f 4 and de ress it, and thereby rock the pivot-shaft f 2 caring the locking-detent so as to move said detent into unlocking position or out of engagement with the gear. The lever g herein provided for moving the arm f 5 is pivotedto the main frame at g and extends downward and is provided at its lower end with foot-engaging studs, in order that it may be swung on its pivot by the action of the feet of the operator. t is moved rearward positively by't e pressure of the feet of the operator and forward by gravity when pressure upon it is relieved. When said swinging-lever is moved rearward the arm f disengages the arm f and'the locking-detent thus released is moved into locking position by the action of the spring f andwhen said lever is returned to its normal position the arm f again engages said arm f and rocks thepivot-shaft and moves the locking-detent into its unlocking position. The locking device is released during the first part of the rearward movement of the operating-lever g and is immediately operated by the spring or other inde endent means employed for operating it. T e locking-detent will be released for the purpose of locking the gear when the tool-holder has been moved into correctposition or approximately correct position to bring one of the tools beneath the plunger b which will be determined by the movements of the pointer, and, as it is at this time that the plunger is designed to operate the tool, the said lever g is or may be also employed as a means foroperating it, but the invention is. not limited to thus employing the lever g, for this purpose, as its particular function, so far as the present invention is concerned, is to control the action of the locking-detent. By so arranging the parts that the operating-lever releases the centering and locking device during the first part of its rearward movement, the plun er may be subsequently operated. during t e latter part of said rearwardv movement. Rearward movement of the lever g is limited by a sto arm 9 engaging a yielding stop 9 on the rame, and forward movement of said lever is limited by the body portion of the lever engaging a yielding stop g on the frame. The leverg has at its upper end an upwardly extended arm 9 bearing a roll g which engages the end portion of an arm 9 bearing a plunger I). Said arm is pivoted at b to the frame and extends forward and sup orts the plunger above the tools and above t e bed It on the frame, and when said arm is depressed by the movement of the lever 9 the plunger will engage one of the tools and force it downward toward the bed. The arm bearing the plunger is raised by a spring I). The plunger 1) may be adjustably supported at the outer end of the arm b in any suitable manner.

In the machine herein shown, a movable bed strip i is em )loyed which passes over the bed h and which is fed along intermittingly by means of suitable feeding-rolls i and 4 or by other suitable means provided for the purpose.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1- 1. In a stencil-cutting machine, the combination of a rotary tool-holder, a stationary unobstructed circular dial-plate located in front of said tool-holder, a pointer movable over the dial-plate, hand-engagin means arranged at both sides of said dial- Iate whereb it is adapted to be engaged by both hands 0 the operator, which is connected with said pointer and tool-holder for operating them simultaneously, and means for operating the tools carried by said tool-holder, substantially as described.

2. In a stencil-cutting machine, the combination of a rotary tool-holder, a stationary unobstructed circular dial-plate located in front of said tool-holder, a pointer movable over the dial-plate, ashaft bearin the pointer extending through the dial-pl ate, a ring located adjacent the dial-plate and accessible at opposite sides thereof, whereby it is adapted to be engaged by both hands of the operator, and means connecting said ring with said pointer-shaft and also with said tool-holder for operating them simultaneousgr, and means for operating the tools carrie by said tool-holder, substantially as described.

3. In a stencil-cutting machine, the combination of a rotary tool-holder, a stationary unobstructed dial-plate located in front of said tool-holder, a pointer movable over the dial plate, a hand engagin ring, made larger in diameter than the dia plate, means connecting it with said pointer and also with said tool-holder for operating them simultaneously, and independent means for operating the tools carried by said tool-holder, substantially as described.

4. In a stencil-cutting machine, the combination of a rotary tool-holder, a stationary unobstructed dial-plate located in front of said tool-]1'older, a pointer movable over the dial-plate, a hand-engaging ring, arranged in a plane below the dial-plate, and connected with said pointer and tool-holder for oper ating them simultaneously, and inde endent cured to said sha t beneath the dial-plate,

and engaging said driven-gear, a hand-engaging ring secured to said driving-gear, and independent means for operating the tools carried by said tool-holder, substantially as described.

6. In a stencil-cutting machine, the combination of a tool-holder, a shaft hearing it turning on a vertical axis, a driven gear on said shaft, a stationary dial-plate disposed in inclined position, a pointer movable with respect thereto, an inclined shaft bearing said pointer, a driving-gear thereon engaging said driven-gear, means for turning said gears to turn said shafts simultaneously, and independent means for operating the tools carried by said tool-holder, substantially as described.

7. In a stencil-cutting machine, the combination of a stationary dial-plate having a center hub, a shaft extending through said hub, a cap secured to said shaft, a set of balls arranged about the shaft between the cap and the ends of the hub, a pointer extended from said cap, a tool-holder, a shaft bearing it, and means connecting said tool-holder shaft with said pointer-shaft, whereby they are turned simultaneousl and means for turning them, substantial y as described.

8. In a stencil-cutting machine, the combination of a tool-holder, a shaft bearing it turning on a vertical axis, a driven-gear on said shaft, a stationary dial-plate located in front of said tool-holder, a pointer movable with respect thereto, a shaft bearing said pointer, a driving-gear thereon engaging said I driven-gear, hand-engaging means for turning said gears to turn said shafts simultaneously, a locking-detent for engaging the teeth of one of said gears, a tool-actuatingdevice, and a foot-lever arranged to control the operation of said locking-detent and also operate said tool-actuating-device, substantially as described.

9. In a stencil-cutting machine, the combination of a rotary tool-holder, a tool actuating-device, a stationary dial-plate located in front of said tool-holder, a pointer movable over the dial-plate, handengaging means connected with said pointer and toolholder for operating them simultaneously, a locking-device for the tool-holder, a footlever, arran ed to operate said tool-actuating-device, having means for .moving said &

locking-device into its unlocking position when moved in one direction and to release it when moved in the other direction, and

and means inde endent of the footever for moving said 100 'ng-device into locking position when released, substantially as descrlbed. 11. In a stencil-cutting machine, the conibination of a rotary tool-holder, hand-operated means for turning it, a locking-device for said tool-holder, a foot-lever, engaging means thereon for the locking-device, whereby said locking-device is moved into its unlocking position by the foot-lever, and is subsequently released, and a sprin for mov- 30 ing sa1d locking-device into its 100 ing position when released by said foot-lever, substantially as deseribed.-

'12. In a stencil-cutting machine, the combination of a rotary tool-holder, hand-operated means for turning it, a spring-pressed locking-device for said tool-holder, means for moving said locking-device into'its unlocking position and for normally holding it in such position which is movable to release it permitting it to operate, substantially as described.

13. In a stenell-cuttin machine, the com-- bination of a rotary too -holder, hand operated means for turning it, a s ring-pressed locking-device for said tool-hol er, means for moving said locking-device into its unlocking position and for normally holding it in such position which is movable to release it permltting it to operate, and a tool-actuating.

device connected with and operated by the aforesaid means, arranged to operate the tool after the locking-device has been released, substantially as described.

14. In a stencil-cutting machine, the combination of a tool-holder, a shaft bearing it, adriven-gear on said shaft, a stationary dialplate, a pointer movable with respect thereto, a shaft bearing said pointer, a driving-gear thereon engaging said driven-gear and means for turning said gears to turn said shafts simultaneously, a pivoted locking-detent for engaging the teeth of said driven-gear having an engaging portion, a spring for movingit into locking position, and a lever having an engaging-portion for engaging'the engagingportion of said detent to move it into its unockin position, substantially as described.

15. n a stencil-cutting machine, the combination of a tool-holder, a shaft -bearing it, a driven-gear on said shaft having long pointed teeth, a stationary dial-plate, a ointer movable With respect thereto, a s aft bearing said pointer, a drivilig-gear on said shaft having deep interdent spaces to receive the teeth on sa1d driven-gear, means for turning said gears to turn the shaftssimultaneously,

a locking-detent for engaging the driven-' gear, a spring for moving it into locking position, and a lever for engaging it and moving it into unlocking position, substantially as described.

16. In a stencil-cutting machine, the combination of a tool-holder, a shaft bearin it,

a driven-gear on said shaft havin ong pointed teeth, a stationary dial-p ate, a

pointer movable with respect thereto, a shaft earing said pointer, a shaft having deep interdental spaces to receive the teeth on said driven-gear, means for turning said gears to turn the shafts simultaneously, a detent adapted to engage the teeth of one of said gears for centering and locking 'it, and means for operating said detent, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. STERLING ELLIOTT.

Witnesses:

B. J. NOYES, H. B. DAVIS.

riving-gear on said 

